Payment Methods and Finance for International Trade

This book explains various methods of payment in international trade and trade finance schemes for international trade. It also presents an overview of the concepts, purposes, features, and risks of international trade.

A grasp of the features and risks of international trade facilitates a better understanding of the numerous methods of payment in international trade and the relevant trade finance schemes, which is essential to success in international trade transactions.

In order to complete an international trade transaction, depending on the terms, both parties need access to funds. Compared with large companies, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), frequently face difficulties in raising capital or funds, but financing an international trade transaction is often the key to its successful completion. As such, selecting an appropriate financing mechanism from the various options available is vital.

This book offers a systematic overview of international trade and payment together with trade finance, providing instructive examples and illustrations of trade documents, each method of payment, and trade finance including export credit insurance or guarantee.

1. Concept of international trade

2. Purposes of international trade

3. Characteristics of international trade

4. Risks in international trade

Chapter 2 International Trade Contracts

2. Formation of a contract

3. Performance of a contract

Chapter 3 Documents for International Trade

2. Commercial documents

3. Financial documents

Chapter 4 Overview of Payment Methods

2. Basic types of payment method

Chapter 5 Payment in Advance (Cash in Advance)

1. Introduction

3. Advantages/disadvantages

Chapter 6 Open Account

1. Introduction

2. Operation of an open account

3. Features and advantages/disadvantages

Chapter 7 Documentary Collection

1. Introduction

2. Operation of a documentary collection

3. Features and advantages/disadvantages

4. The Uniform Rules for Collections

Chapter 8 Documentary Credits

1. Introduction

2. Operation of a documentary credit

3. Various types of a credit

5. Issuing a documentary credit through SWIFT

Chapter 9 UCP and L/C Examples

1. UCP

2. Examples of L/C

1. Bank payment obligation (BPO)

3. Netting

Chapter 11 Independent Guarantee (demand guarantee, standby L/C)

1. Introduction

3. Independence principle and fraud exception

Chapter 12 Trade Finance for International Sale of Goods

1. Introduction

2. Export working capital financing (for pre-shipment)

3. Negotiation (or purchase) of bills of exchange

4. Export factoring (International factoring)

5. International forfaiting

Chapter 13 Financing an Overseas Construction

1. Introduction

2. Supplier credit and buyer credit

3 Project finance

Chapter 14 Export Credit Insurance or Guarantee

1. Introduction

2. Main types of export credit insurance or guarantee

Sang Man Kim is a Professor of International Trade, in South Korea. He is also an attorney at law (New York, USA), and an arbitrator and mediator at the Korean Commercial Arbitration Board. In his former role as a Deputy Director at the Korea Trade Insurance Corporation (a Korean Government-owned official export credit agency), Professor Kim worked as an underwriter and legal consultant for Korean international trade for a period of 15 years (1995–2010).

Professor Kim holds a B.A. in Law and an M.D. in International Business Transactions Law and a Ph.D. in Commercial Law from Korea University. He also holds an LL.M. (M.D.) from the University of Minnesota Law School.

Over the past 25 years, Professor Kim has practiced and researched international trade and has published over 80 articles and 11 books on the topic.